Squire Robotics make aname for themselves at Lego League tournament

Members of St. Mary’s School Squire Robotics, a first-year “rookie” robotics team, showed engineering prowess beyond their years at the first Lego League qualifying tournament at Lakeview Junior High School last month. This was Squire Robotics’ first regional competition and while they didn’t place high enough to advance to the next level, they did finish as the top Santa Maria-area team.

The students built and programmed their Lego robot and then maneuvered it around the course, directing it to complete a wide range of tasks. The Squires received 225 points, the 12th highest score earned during the three-round competition.

“We’re so proud of our Squire Robotics team,” Michelle Cox, St. Mary of the Assumption School principal, said in a prepared statement. “As a first-year team, their results are very impressive. They dedicated a lot of time and effort to compete. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our parents, coach, and mentors.”

The newest team in the area, Squire Robotics had less than two months to prepare for the competition, which pitted them against well-established teams from schools from Ventura to Paso Robles. Coach Liza Resley and Joe Anderson and Roman Baca, two students from Orcutt Academy High School, helped the children master the skills needed for this science and technology competition.

The seven-member team included students from grades fourth through eighth.

“We had a very young team and are looking forward to next year,” Cox said. “At St. Mary’s, we emphasize math and science to set up our students for future success.”

The school’s Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program includes teaching high school algebra and geometry to middle school students; integrating advanced technology throughout the school, including a new computer lab; a sixth grade science camp at the Outdoor School; competing internationally in “Mathletics;” and numerous science-focused field trips.